Just when we thought the COVID-19 pandemic was starting to wind down, the Omicron variant made its debut and the contagious virus is spreading more quickly than ever before.
With the recent outbreak of Omicron, urgent care and testing centers have long lines that sometimes last for hours, making people turn to at-home testing options.
According to the CDC, COVID-19 self-tests — also known as at-home tests or over-the-counter (OTC) tests — are one of many risk-reduction measures, along with vaccination, masking and physical distancing, that protects you and others from the spread of COVID-19.
The problem? They’re always out of stock. Ahead, get all the info on how to use at-home COVID tests, how accurate they are and where you can buy them online.
How to use at-home COVID tests
Of course, read the complete manufacturer’s instructions for use before starting the test and make sure you talk to a healthcare provider if you have questions about the test or your results. Here are general steps to take a self-test, according to the CDC.
Accuracy of at-home COVID tests
Invalid test results are rare but can occur. Chief Infection Control Officer Roy Chemaly, M.D. at the University of Texas MD Cancer Center said that “the tests are only accurate 80% of the time, and sometimes less.”
Sometimes invalid results or an error can show on the test device. Invalid results or an error can occur for many reasons — your specimen may not have been collected correctly, or the test may have malfunctioned.
Due to the current infection rate of the coronavirus being so high, many professionals suggest retesting with a PCR test if you have symptoms and test negative using an at-home antigen test as it could be a false negative.
Where to buy at-home COVID tests
Thanks to at-home COVID tests, many people now have the option to test themselves instead of waiting in hour-long lines at their local urgent care office. The tricky part is now getting your hands on one. In an effort to help you obtain a self-test we rounded up a handful of retailers that still have self-tests in stock.
Note: these tests go in and out of stock by the minute so make sure to check back regularly if none are available at this given time.
QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Test, $27
This simple at-home test is authorized for non-prescriptive home use with self-collected direct anterior nasal (NS) swab specimens from individuals aged 14 and older, and with adult-collected anterior NS samples from those 2 years or older.
It’s most effective when used within six days of symptoms, or 24 to 48 hours after suspected exposure.
BD Veritor At-Home Covid-19 Test, $35
This Emergency Use Authorized rapid antigen serial test enables you to collect and test your sample at home and receive digital results on a compatible smartphone in just 15 minutes. The serial test is intended to be used twice over two to three days, with at least 24 hours and no more than 48 hours between tests.
InteliSwab™ COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test, $20-$24
This test requires less than one minute of hands-on time. InteliSwab has received FDA Emergency Use Authorization for self-testing. You do not need to ship samples to a lab or get a prescription from your healthcare provider. Get your result in 30 minutes.
BinaxNOW COVID‐19 Antigen Self Test (2 Count), $20-$24
Get your test results in 15 minutes or less with a simple nasal swab in the comfort and convenience of your home. BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self Test is available under FDA Emergency Use Authorization.
Make sure to check these links every so often, as the BinaxNOW tests have been going in and out of stock pretty regularly.
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